May end up in hospital (slipped disk again, getting worse, #52)

[happylabs]

So sorry you are having back problems. I am saying some prayers for you today. Hope things work out. Maybe you will not have to go to the hospital. Wish I was your neighbor. I would take care of your kitties anyday. And you too! Hugs and prayers.

[Pinot's Mom]

I'm sorry you're in such pain, Kirsten, and hope things work out. Keep us posted if you can.

[Randi]

Kirsten, I'm so sorry about your health problems, I hope you won't have to go to hospital.

I can see it's a problem having Luna and Lily taken care of if anything should happen and I was thinking... perhaps you could start a Meet-up group in your area for catsitting. The group we have here works very well. We meet every now and again to have dinner, either in town or at someone's house. That way we can find out who we "click" with and who have the same attitude to cats.

Here's a link to our group. The founder of it is Dagmar Fink and German, by the way.

http://www.meetup.com/cat-sitting

I searched in the Hannover area, but could not find a catsitting group there.

Hope you feel better soon

[Kirsten]

Thank you everyone! I wish I had you all as neighbors, so I wouldn't have to worry about my girls! I know you'd take good care of them!

Randi, there IS actually such a group (at least something similar to that) that was recently founded in my hometown, and I was already thinking about attending one of their meetings (the next one is next Friday, I think). It's a bunch of cat loving people and the idea is to make friends and to help out in cases like this. But of course I've got to get to know them first before I would entrust my precious girls with any of them, and that would take a while. I hope I'm not running out of time now...

Mary, if I could be sure that only one session helps, it may be worth a try. But I guess I'd better have that MRI first. When the pain's really coming from a herniated disk, there should something be done about that. But in case they cannot find out the cause for the Sciatica, acupuncture may be an option.

Kirsten

[carole]

Oh dearest Kirsten, i am so sorry you are dealing with this, i know how it feels to be in constant pain, and i am much older than you, it is not fair for one so young to have to deal with so much,i do hope you can find some pain relief that works for you and eases it for you soon.

Can you put the kitties in a cattery if necessary, although not the ideal choice i know, but maybe the only one ,i wish you luck with finding some nice people to help you out with your situation and fingers and paws all crossed you don't even have to go to hospital and that you can get well soon, take care and thinking of you, and yes i would be there if i could to, not only to help with your kitties but you as well,if only someone here on PT lived close by,if only.

Take care and HUGS.

[Randi]

Kirsten, I feel the same way as you do about getting to know people before trusting anyone to catsit Fister. The website of the group I'm a part of, can be rather slow, but when people join, an Excel sheet is sent to everyone with names, adresses and tel. no. - plus the part of town/country where they live. I noticed a girl from Luxemburg who had just arrived and didn't know anybody, so I called her. We're now very good friends and visit each other every so often.

You know, most people are a bit shy to begin with, so we went together to the second meeting I attended and also took her along to meet Dali's mom, which was perfect as they both speak French.

The cat I catsat first was Malcolm, his mom wrote on the site: "Randi is the best catsitter ever". I like her because of that, but also because she is a real animal lover. She always adopts older cats. When I was in Scotland, she came to look after and cuddle with Fister and I had complete confidence that she would do a good job.

When I catsat Malcolm, she had a professional service come in morning - it cost a fortune and they didn't do a good job at all! After that experience, she has started her own catsitting business alongside the Meet-up group. See her site here:

http://kattepasser.dk/

Well, what I want to get across is... get to know other catlovers you can trust!

[Daisy and Delilah]

Kirsten, I feel so bad for you. I also know what it's like to have constant pain. Sciatica is brutal. I had to have extensive physical therapy and get my TENS unit when I last had a flareup. It is no fun. My thoughts and prayers are going out to you. You have had your share and more of heartbreak!!